Babies are more vulnerable to infections due to immature immune responses. That’s why you need to disinfect baby toys frequently, as they carry germs, bacteria, and viruses. But how to disinfect baby toys? How often do you clean baby toys? This post will provide effective cleaning methods for various types of baby toys and tell you the cleaning frequency. Just read on to learn more.

Why You Need to Disinfect Baby Toys Regularly?

First off, let’s look at the main reasons why you should clean baby toys regularly.

• Stay safe & healthy: Baby toys are breeding grounds for germs. Regular disinfection helps prevent the spread of pathogens, reducing the risk of illness.
• Prevent allergies: Baby toys harbor dust mites, mold, and allergens. It’s important to clean them regularly to prevent babies from having allergic reactions.
• Maintain hygiene: Babies like to put toys in their mouths, making toys contaminated with saliva and dirt. Disinfection makes sure the toys are clean and safe to use.
• Keep toys better: Dirt can degrade baby toys over time. Regular cleaning can maintain their condition and prolong the life of toys.

How Often Should You Clean Baby Toys?

As introduced earlier, baby toys need to be regularly cleaned to maintain a safe and healthy environment. So how often do you clean baby toys? Generally, toys, especially those that are regularly put in the mouth, should be cleaned on a frequent basis. Here are more specifics.

• Daily: Teething toys and pacifiers should be cleaned and disinfected daily or even after each use. This is because they frequently come into contact with your baby’s hands and mouth.
• Weekly: Some plastic toys, blocks, and stuffed animals that are not frequently mouthed or played with can be cleaned on a weekly basis.
• Monthly: Clean larger toys and play equipment like swings and play mats monthly. Just make sure to follow the cleaning instructions from the manufacturers.

It’s worth noting that you should clean and disinfect all toys immediately after a baby is sick. This is a precautionary measure to prevent the further spread of germs.

How to Clean and Disinfect Baby Toys?

Now you know the reasons and frequency for cleaning baby toys. But how to disinfect baby toys? It depends on the types of baby toys. In this part, you can learn about the specific cleaning and disinfecting methods for different types of baby toys. Just check them out!

Plastic Toys (Rattles, Blocks, Teethers, etc.)

Most plastic toys are easy to clean. You can put some small plastic toys in your dishwasher for a thorough cleaning. If they are not dishwasher safe, you can wash them with a mixture of soap and water. After that, disinfect these toys with a bleach solution (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water), or follow the manufacturer's instructions on bleach for dilution.

However, bleach solutions can be toxic and irritate the skin and respiratory system, which is not recommended for some baby toys. So how to disinfect baby toys that go in mouth without bleach? You can use bleach-free alternatives, for instance, a vinegar solution(with equal parts white vinegar and water), or disinfectant wipes.

Plush or Soft Toys (Stuffed Animals, Fabric Books)

If the soft toys are machine-washable, wash them in a mesh bag or pillowcase with mild or baby-safe detergent. For non-washable toys, you can remove dust with a vacuum. In addition, a handheld steam cleaner can be used to kill bacteria and germs on stuffed animals.

After a thorough cleaning of soft toys, you should disinfect them. Do not use bleach solutions for soft toys because bleach might damage fabrics and cause color fading. Alternatively, you can use a disinfectant spray or steamer for soft toys.

Wooden Toys

Wooden baby toys need extra care since the material is porous. You can give them a cleaning with warm and soapy water first, then rinse them with cool water. Please note that wooden toys must be dried thoroughly. This is to prevent mold growth, warping, and other moisture-related damage.

After cleaning and air drying, you can disinfect wooden toys with solutions such as vinegar(equal parts of white vinegar and water) or Hydrogen Peroxide(3%). Do not soak wooden toys in the solutions. Lightly spray the solution on the toys and wipe them with a soft cloth.  

Electronic Toys or Toys with Batteries

How to safely disinfect baby toys that are electronic? For instance, a baby music player or a robot? It is worth noting that you can clean the surface of electronic toys only. To do this, you will first need to turn off toys and remove the batteries. After that, use a damp cloth,  disinfecting wipes, or mild soap for disinfection.

Please note that the whole process should avoid getting water into the electronic parts. Make sure the electronic toys are completely dry before using them after cleaning.

Paper Toys

It can be a bit tricky to clean and disinfect paper toys because they are easily damaged by moisture. You can use a soft and dry cloth to gently dust off the paper toys, which should be enough to remove the dirt or debris on the surface.

How to disinfect baby toys made of paper? You can use disinfectant wipes or rubbing alcohol (70% or higher) to gently wipe the surface if possible. Do not use a bleach solution unless the paper toys are washable. Finally, make sure paper toys are dried and stored in a clean, ventilated area.

Conclusion

How to disinfect baby toys? This guide has provided useful methods to help you disinfect baby toys of different kinds. And you should know the reasons to clean baby toys and how often to clean them for your baby’s health. Regularly disinfecting baby toys is crucial, just add it to your long to-do list and keep your baby safe now!

FAQs

Can I use hand sanitizers to disinfect toys?

Hand sanitizers are effective in cleaning germs on hands, but they might not be strong enough to fully disinfect toys of all types of germs. Moreover, some hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which can cause damage to the surface of toys. In addition, babies might ingest hand sanitizer containing alcohol if they put toys in their mouths.

Is it safe to use bleach on baby toys?

Generally, it is safe and effective to use bleach on baby toys. Just make sure to follow the correct dilution to create a safe sanitizing solution; for instance, 1.5 teaspoons of unscented household bleach per 1 gallon of water is recommended. Meanwhile, make sure baby toys are thoroughly rinsed and dried after disinfection.

How do you sanitize baby stuffed animals?

You can sanitize baby stuffed animals in your washing machine with a hypoallergenic detergent. The detergent is considered safe and recommended for babies. Alternatively, you can sanitize them with a bleach solution or a vinegar solution. For non-washable toys, disinfectant spray can be helpful.

What is a good disinfectant for baby toys?

There are a few good options for disinfecting baby toys. If you want to disinfect baby toys naturally, a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water can be a good choice. Bleach solution and hydrogen peroxide are generally safe for baby toys. Make sure to rinse thoroughly with water and air dry them completely. You can also use baby-safe disinfectant wipes/spray that are labeled suitable for baby items.